Post navigation

ALWARD ACTION 4/28/17

OFFICE NEWS……. Well……let me first start with an apology….. I am very sorry it has taken this long for a new Alward Action! Things have been a little busy around here since our return from Spring Break (which feels like it was forever ago!). 5th graders are finished with their M-Step testing, only 3rd and 4th grade to go on that. Our 5th graders visited Baldwin Street Middle School this week……. big day for these students! Geeesh….. we are a hoppin’ place! I would like to say things might quiet down some, but unfortunately it is that time of year and everything seems to fly by. We still have a lot of work going on, M-Step testing, teachers and principal working on class lists for next year, field trips and a Spring Book Fair coming up!

Please make sure to check all the Upcoming Dates at the end of the Alward Action. There are field trips, camp, field days, etc on the calendar that you should make note of. Please remember to send sack lunches if necessary. : ) We would also like to note that we are NOT having our annual Memorial Day Program. With the construction taking place at Alward, we are just not able to make this happen. We do apologize and we are sure it will be back on the schedule for next year. Thank you for your understanding.

One very important bit of information that I would like to get out to parents……. Our FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL will be PRIOR to the Labor Day weekend! The first day of school for students in the 17/18 school year will be TUESDAY, AUGUST 29. Please make note as well, that our Open House dates have changed…… PK/K Open House will be on Wednesday, August 23 and Grades 1-5 Open House will be Thursday, August 24. The Open Houses will begin at 6:30pm.

EARLY RELEASE…… Our next early release is FRIDAY, May 12. This time will be used by teachers for professional development and professional conversations in regard to meeting the needs of all students.

M-STEP TESTING FOR GRADES 3 and 4….. To the parents of 3rd AND 4th grade students. M-Step testing is here. With that being said, we would like to get the testing dates out to you in hopes of having all the students in school on the days of testing. We ask for your help in not scheduling appointments or pulling your student if at all possible on these testing dates. Our hopes are that with giving you these dates in advance that will help all of us. Thank you for your cooperation in regards to these testing dates.

4th Grade M-Step Dates ~ MAY 2-5

3rd Grade M-Step Dates ~ MAY 16-18

PLEASE VOTE…….. TUESDAY, MAY 2………ANNUAL OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL….. On May 2, voters will be asked whether to renew Hudsonville Public School’s non-homestead millage. This is an annual renewal voters have approved for the past 22 years and would generate approximately $4.2 million dollars of operating revenue for our school district.

It is important to note this is NOT a tax on primary residences and is NOT a new tax. It is a proposal to continue the existing 18 mill assessment on only non-homestead properties such as industrial and commercial property and second homes. State law requires school districts levy this tax or lose a significant portion of their state per-pupil foundation allowance funding, which would potentially require cuts to student programs. For more information, including ballot language, please click here.

5th GRADE NEWS……… Here are some important dates that you will want to have on your calendars for your 5th graders. Please make sure to get the PARENT INFORMATION MEETING DATE, as this is an informative meeting for the parents.

MAY 15 ~ Parent Information Meeting @ Baldwin Street Middle School at 7:00pm in the cafeteria.

MAY 19 ~ Course Selection/Profile are sheets due.

MAY 26 ~ 5TH Grade Celebration

JUNE 1-2 ~ 5TH Grade Camp

AUGUST 17 ~ 6th Grade Orientation @ Baldwin Street Middle School from 7-8:30. This includes packet pickup and building walk through.

PTC NEWS….. STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK…….The PTC is looking for volunteers for Staff Appreciation Week, May 1- 5th. If you would be willing to donate food items, or set-up / clean-up time during that week, please email Sarah Bigelow at sarah.bigelow331@gmail.com. With your help we look forward to making Staff Appreciation Week a success for our hardworking Alward staff!

ALWARD’S HAPPY CAMPER BOOK FAIR…… is almost here!!! The Book Fair will be the week of May 8 through May 11. Monday and Tuesday will be “LOOK” days and Wednesday and Thursday will be “BUY” days. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 the Book Fair will be open from 3:30p to 6p for evening hours. Your students will be coming home with a paper showing shopping days/times. This Book Fair is our Buy One, Get One Free sale!! Please remember….. we also will have our All for Books Program going. This is such a GREAT way to help other children get books that they would not have access to! We hope to collect $200 for this program, so please help out any way you can!! : )

COMMUNITY NEWS………. MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION ……. Saturday, April 29, 2017 10:00 am to Noon. Hager Park Church is partnering with Feeding America West Michigan to provide a Mobile Food Distribution. The food distribution will take place at Hager Park Church’s parking lot, located at 2635 Bauer Road in Jenison. Sign-in is required, although the food is FREE to anyone that needs it. There will be a large assortment of food, consisting of fresh seasonal produce and other high-quality grocery items.

SIDE BY SIDE……Presented by the Grand Rapids Symphony and the HHS Orchestra……. On May 4th, the HHS Orchestras will be performing along with the Grand Rapids Symphony at 7:30 p.m. at Fair Haven Church. This is a free concert and it’s going to be a fantastic night of music! Please read the attached flyer with more details….. Grand Rapids Symphony:Orchestra-1gwcni7

MICHIGAN BALLET ACADEMY ……… is presenting a world premiere production of Coppelia, a full-length ballet with original choreography by internationally renowned Artistic Director Nikoloz Makhateli. Coppelia is a romantic comedy ballet about love and mistaken identity. It is a charming light-hearted romp, perfect for all ages, with a sparkling musical score by Delibes. Coppelia is one of the most well-loved comic ballets, with something for everyone: mischief, romance, dancing mechanical dolls, and a large wedding celebration at the end which ends happily ever after. Coppelia is being performed on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 2:30 PM at the beautiful new 1200 seat Jenison Center For The Arts, 8375 20th Avenue, Jenison, MI 49428. Hudsonville Public School students receive a special discounted ticket price of $10.00. Adults are $18.00. Tickets can be purchased at: www.michiganballet.org.

On Sunday, May 7 at 1:00 P.M, there will be a Coppelia Tea Party before the 2:30 PM performance. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite doll to the party. The cost of the Tea Party is $18.00. The Tea Party includes a delicious lunch, special ballet-themed desserts, lemonade/tea, a beautiful craft activity, story-telling which reveals the humorous plot of Coppelia, photographs with the dancers in costume, a unique party favor for the children, and wonderful door prizes.

MEET UP AND EAT UP……… Meet Up and Eat Up is a federally funded program that provides FREE meals and activities to children of all ages. This summer’s program will take place at the Presidential Estates Club House (5075 Presidential Lane, Hudsonville), Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, from June 19 – August 18. The food portion of this program is provided by Jenison/Hudsonville School Food Service through the National School Lunch Program. Various activities will be provided by local volunteers. A meeting will be held on May 18 at 5:00 p.m. just before the food truck. This will be a time for parents to meet the volunteers and learn more about the program and how they can get involved. Feel free to contact Shana DeWent at shana@sunrisemin.org if you have any questions. This institution (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider. Please read the attached flyer with more details…….. Meet Up Parent Mtg Flyer-1j77xr8

ATTENTION…. BRIDGE CARD HOLDERS…….Double Up Food Bucks will be back at your area’s farmers’ markets starting in June. When you use your Bridge Card at a participating farmers’ market, the Double Up Food Bucks program will match you dollar for dollar with bonus funds – up to $20 – that you can use in the market to buy more fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. It’s that simple – spend up to $20 on your Bridge Card at the market, and you’ll get up to $20 more, free, to spend on healthy, local foods. Most farmers’ markets and some on-farm produce stands in Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon Counties are participating. Visit www.doubleupfoodbucks.org or call toll-free 1-866-586-2796 for market locations and more information, or just visit your favorite market starting in June!

SLIP N SLIDE AND 5K…….SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2017 AT 8:00am. Get out this spring and start running or walking with your family. Then register to participate in the 5th annual SATURDAY SLIP N SLIDE 5K! This family-friendly event will be a highlight of your summer. Register by June 1 to receive a Dri-fit race shirt. More information at www.saturdayslipnslide.com.

COMMUNITY ED NEWS……… Hudsonville Community Education has many offerings for your kids. For more information or to register, please visit www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org or call Rebecca at 669-7747, ext. #3. The “Summer Activities” book went home with students a week or so ago with all of the summer programs that will be offered. If you are in need of another they have extras at the Administration Building.

UPCOMING EVENTS…..

MAY 8-11 ~ Spring Book Fair

MAY 10 ~ Evening Book Fair Hours… 3:30p to 6:00p.

MAY 12 ~ Early Release at 12:15pm.

MAY 15 ~ Kindergarten Field Trip/Teusinks/Timbertown

MAY 15 ~ Baldwin Street Middle School Music Parent Meeting @ 7PM

MAY 16 ~ JETS PIZZA NIGHT!

May 16 ~ PTC Meeting @ 7pm

MAY 26 ~ 5TH Grade Celebration

JUNE 1-2 ~ 5TH Grade Camp

JUNE 6 ~ 4/5TH Grade field day @ BMS

JUNE 7 ~ 4/5TH Grade field day rain make up

JUNE 8 ~ School Board Meeting @ 7PM

June 9 ~ Alward Olympics : )

JUNE 9 ~ LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/EARLY RELEASE @ 12:15

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nurenberg : )

Sign up to receive texts from HPS

1. Confirm that your cell phone is on file at your school

2. Text “YES” to 68453 from each phone or device from which they wish to receive texts